Logan didn't think he could create a harsher contrast with the small Japanese town he was currently in. The sakura trees were in full bloom, painting the landscape with white and pink petals.
He had taken time off from being an X-Man to discover parts of his past that had started popping up in his dreams. He learned that he could speak fluent Japanese shortly after when eating at a Japanese steakhouse with Marie. He spoke with the professor about the new developments. Xavier encouraged his trip and financed the plane ticket for him. Marie understood that he needed to do this, so she gave him her blessing. She went with him to the airport and gave him a farewell kiss and a journal so he could write his thoughts and findings.
Now that he was in Japan, he felt like he was home, it felt familiar. He went to various villages and towns that had names that sounded like he had said them before. He hadn't found out much about himself though. He wished he were home with Marie. It had been almost a week since he had seen her. It felt like an eternity.
It started to rain as he walked down the street headed to the train station. It was warm for the middle of April, so Logan didn't mind the refreshing feel of the water splashing off his eyelashes and nose. As he got closer to the train station he noticed a young man sitting next to a telephone booth making no effort to get inside. He was just staring out into the street with a bag next to him.
The young man got Logan's attention and Logan stopped walking when he got to the telephone booth. Even though the young man had the features of someone not from Japan, Logan started off the conversation in Japanese to be polite. "Konnichiwa. Onamae wa Logandesu. Dou shiteru?"
The young man looked up at him. "Eigo o hanashimasu ka."
Logan smiled. "Yeah. So what are you doing here?"
The young man's eyes started to water as he began his tale. "I'm going insane. My name is Ken Williams. I have been studying here in Japan. The school year is over for me and I want to go back home so I can see my fiancé. I don't have enough money to get back home though. I called my parents, but they don't have any to send me; they're barely able to buy enough food for themselves. No one here understands. I walked around town yesterday trying to find someone to help me, but no one would. I don't know what to do. I'm all alone. Nobody knows my name. I love her so much. She's the one." He looked up at the sky and the rain began to wash off the tears from his face. "Why am I in Japan?"
Logan let him finish and then reached into his pocket. "Listen Ken. I understand. I feel like I've been here a lifetime, and I'll never come back again. I love an American beauty. I know where you're going. I know where you've been." Logan handed him a wad of cash that Xavier had given him to buy a plane ticket home.
The young man stared at the money in his hand and his entire disposition reversed. "Domo!" With a huge smile on his face he grabbed his bag and ran down the street toward the train station. "Onamae wa Williamsdesu! America ga di di skidesu!" The pedestrians rushing to get indoors stopped and stared at him as he ran by.
Logan smiled and went into the telephone booth. He had to call Xavier. He needed money to go home.
Konnichiwa. Onamae wa Logandesu. Dou shiteru?
Good afternoon. My name is Logan. How's everything?
Eigo o hanashimasu ka.
Do you speak English?
Domo!
Thanks!
Onamae wa Williamsdesu! America ga di di skidesu!
My name is Williams! I really really like America!
The Wolverine & Rogue Fanfiction Archive
Barely Legal Since 2000
Author's Chapter Notes:
I have written a small part of the dialogue in Japanese. For a translation, look at the end of the fic.